Shakey's Pizza

Whatever happened to Shakey's? Anyone still have one. Back when we only had 4 channels on the TV, no VCR's or GameBoys (or, God forbid, Chuck E. Cheese!) a night out a Shakey's, with the banjo players, the old Three Stooges films, etc., was a big night out. I don't remember much about the pizza itself -- maybe that was their problem.

We had a Shakey's Pizza here back in the early 70's. As well as I remember the pizza was good. Unlike the one in the Phillipines, ours only sold pizza. Of course beverages too. It also had one of the old "player piano's" that us kid's really got a kick out of. Now it's become an asian something or other like most of the restaurants popping up around here.

Shakey's were allot of fun. I recall one outside Albany, NY also in the early seventies. Pretty decent hand tossed pizza from what I remember but I was only 12-13 years old at the time. They also served pasta dishes, spaghetti & meatballs, ravioli, etc. They seemed to disappear around '76 the last one I remember seeing was located in Northern NJ. Very reminiscent to today's Ruby Tuesday's in decor with the addition of silent-1940's movies and short features on a real movie screen; Three Stooges, Ritz Brothers, Abbott & Costello. Heavy party atmosphere perfect for families and kids and remember they served soda (pop) by the pitchers! Never had to wait for a refill.

I worked in one in Memphis in about 1968. I remember the pizza as being good (though not as good as Tony's, a contemporaneous chain), and the environment was fun. One of the few restaurants where the pace was fast, but well enough organized that it never seemed frantic.

There is still a Shakey's in Warner Robins, Georgia. It has been there around 30 years.

785 N. Houston RdWarner Robins, GA 31093

I checked the Shakey's web site and was very suprised to see this is the only Shakey's left in the South. The other remaining Shakey's in the U.S. are in California, Arizona, Idaho, Illinois, Washington, and Wisconsin.

Shakey's Santa Monica, Los Angeles (several locations -- one on Pico), Van Nuys, CA. FABULOUS. "Bunch A Lunch" with their great fried chicken, mojo potatoes, enchilades, mashed potatoes, spagetti (not the best) and a salad bar and lots of condiments and jello. Still have the pitchers of beer, soda. Love 'em. Sometimes the paper has coupons so Bunch a Lunch is only $5.49. Can't beat it. TV now, no movies. Always a crowd.

My high school band, football team and cheerleaders always used to go to Shakey's after every home game in '70-73. It was gre3at (I was in the band then) until I got a job working there. After my first Friday evening with all my friends there----and the resulting insanity-----I decided the pizza business was not a long-term (or even a short-term) goal for me. I quit after my second day.Shakey's is still around SoCal in several locations. I haven't been to one lately, but was told by a franchise owner that the quality really suffered when the last corporate owners took over the chain. Well, at least I still have good memories of Shakey's and Friday nights in La Crescenta!

We had a Shakey's in Springfield, MO, when I was a kid. It was a great family event. I remember watching the guys make pizza through the glass, and they would often through flour at us as a joke. It closed in Springfield when I was still young.

In the late 80's, I think it was 1987, I spent a couple of months in Milpitas, CA. There was a Shakey's south of there, and I hadn't eaten at one since Springfield. It was darn good; really crispy crust with a great flavor. I went there a few times during my stay.

There's no Shakey's near me now in MD, VA, or DC. But, oh, what memories this thread brings back! In the early 70s my mom and dad used to take us three kids out for pizza at Shakey's on the weekends. We always got a shrimp pizza and a mushroom pizza. And we loved the Abbot and Costello films. It was a fun night out for us.

Shakey's here in Southern California are slowly being bought out one by one. They are being turned into different Pizza Joints, some still have the buffets some don't. Last time I went, I was very disappointed. Probably will never go back.

Dearfolk, There used to be a Shakey's Pizza Parlor on Dickerson Road in Nashville, Tennessee, but it closed sometime like 1986 - I never did manage to get there. Even later than that was the demise of the last one in Metro Atlanta,located on Stewart Avenue, S/W on the way from downtown to the airport for all you non-expressway freaks... it lasted until roughly 1989. It's comforting to know that one remains open in Warner Robins, Georgia... that's only something like 125 miles from me. While I'm not really up for a trip down there just for that, there are thrift stores in the vicinity that I can patronize synchronously. Watson Boulevard is a main east-west street, impossible to miss, for any of you who want to head there. It's a straight shot off I-75, about 20 miles below Macon. Bon appetit! Crunchily Fixated, Ort. Carlton in the Non-Shakey Ground of Athens, Georgia.

When I was a young lad, we had Shakey's pizza in Japan. I remember going to see Chicago at the Buddakan Hall in Tokyo in the Early 70s. After the concert, we ate there. That was a significant memory, because it was the first time I was allowed to go somewhere that far away without my parents. Of course, I could only go because my older brothers were going, but for one night, I was "all grown up" and independant ( I was all of 11). Ahh, the memories...

We had a Shakey's Pizzeria on Niagara Falls Blvd in Amherst, NY in the late 1960's. I had two friends that worked there, one as an Assistant Manager and the other as a bartender that poured draft beer pitchers. I use to go there and get free pizza since I knew both of my friends that took care of me. Had to pay for the beer though.

The pizza as I remember it was not bad. It was one of the better pizza places in the late 60's in our area. I found out later that the Manager who was part owner obscounded with the funds from the safe. The place closed down after that incident.

We still have a Shakey's in Springfield,IL. It bills itself as the nations largest Shakey's (mainly due to banquet/ meeting rooms that can be made available). It no longer has sing-alongs with the banjo player or the long communal tables. Everything is served buffet style(except for phone in/to go orders). Very good selection of pizza, salads, chicken, vegetables Etc.It is very popular with the tour buses. Shakey's Pizza & Buffet 2441 S. MacArthur Blvd.Springfield,IL.(Town and Country Shopping Center)

Then how are on earth were you supposed to learn how to block a 2-fingered eye poke?

A women that gets the Stooges!!!!!!Does this fiance of yours have ANY IDEA what a lucky son of a gun he is!!!! Only way he could be luckier would be if he was marrying my daughter! Actually,having access to REAL pizza since i grew up on the east coast--it was the stooges that got me into Shakeys!

Bunch 'o Lunch is alive and well in LA. We love 'em and now they even serve tacos and spagetti on their buffet, but the chicken and mojo potatos and PIZZA are the big draw. A little arcade and TV that plays the soaps are all that is left of the Stooges and Banjos. Bummer about the entertainment, but the homeless people in Santa Monica love the place. Love their Wednesday dollar off lunch. You get all you can eat and a drink for under $8.

I remember going to Shakey's in Kansas City when my dad was stationed out in Ft. Leavenworth back in 1979. I was about 11 at the time and remember the long tables, pitchers of soda and NO PLATES! I thought it was so cool to eat pizza on just a napkin. I am afraid to go back to one now as it seems every restaurant (especially pizza place) has changed so drastically - that I wouldn't like it. Is it me or does every national chain taste pretty much alike now a days?

I remember going to Pizza Hut in 1976 after little league and it was good! I even remember my dad ordering a pitcher of beer of there. Now Pizza Hut is a greasy buffet.

We had a Shakey's pizza in Lake Charles until at least 1982. I can remember watching them make pizza at the big window. We brought a family friend (from England) and she fell in love with the "brown beer". But as every other restaurant, it's never as good as you remember from child hood (ie, A&W and KFC).

Shakey's hasn't been around in Pensacola since early to mid 80s. I absolutely loved the MOJO potatoes. If anyone knows the recipe/how to make them I would be indebted. Please post the recipe or email me with it!

When I was a young lad, we had Shakey's pizza in Japan. I remember going to see Chicago at the Buddakan Hall in Tokyo in the Early 70s. After the concert, we ate there. That was a significant memory, because it was the first time I was allowed to go somewhere that far away without my parents. Of course, I could only go because my older brothers were going, but for one night, I was "all grown up" and independant ( I was all of 11). Ahh, the memories...

did you get corn on your pizza? that's the only place i'd heard of shakey's either, but my parents got all excited about it when we moved to japan. turned out it wasn't that good.